Monday, September 28, 2015

Everyone needs a stitch sampler of the stitches their machine can do no matter how many. However, this is a luxury project because it seems other projects must be done for a reason whether it be something to wear, a gift or home decor. It was 3 years ago that I broke my arm at the State Fair. That meant a lot of doing much of nothing. I'd read and watched series on HULU until I was sick of it. I was really missing my sewing, but it was very painful to move my right arm which I thought I needed to be able to do to help guide the fabric in my machine. Finally, I thought what a better time to do a stitch sampler? What little I needed to use my broken arm, I think the bit of exercise actually helped it.

The machine's hand book said I had over 680 stitches on my machine. It took me about 3 days punching buttons with my left hand to finish this sampler. Each stitch included if possible, small, large, reverse and upside down. As you can see, I numbered the pages with design numbers. The first box had 249 stitches.

First Box means they are stitches from Box 1 on the Character Decorative Stitch Window of the machine.

I decided not to take time to number the stitches, and it was a good thing, or it would have been a waste of time. As I used a stitch later, I numbered it in pencil. Notice here is #70 followed by #10! Apparently when I used a stitch it got moved to top 10? Because when I went back to 70 next time, that wasn't the stitch for that number.

Here's another. I gave up on even numbering them by pencil.

I know some folks either sew their "pages" together or use a ring binding clip. I decided to just fold mine so later I can lay the "pages" side by side to compare stitches.

They are stored on the shelf at my work space where I can grab them, look over them and decide what I'd like to use. I can spread out the pages if need. I never have gone on and made the sampler for box 2, because the stitches looked the same. Not sure why?

Monday, September 21, 2015

I'm sure I have you bored with my bargains I found the first weekend of August on the World's Longest Yard Sale this year. I had promised myself not to buy more stuff unless it went in my sewing room. I don't usually find much in that category. However, it seemed like others had gone through what I went through last year: Losing my Mother and then the daunting task of cleaning out my parents' home of all their beloved things. On this yard sale, I inherited (bought) beloved fabrics of lost Mothers.

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I can tell this lady had a hard time departing, because as I bought, she pulled out more from a bag.

Each were $2 regardless of amount.

I chose pieces that had about 4 yards.

Would like to make tops out of some of these.

At another location, there was enough flannel fabric to make at least 2 baby quilts with the batting I told you about earlier.

$4 for this stack.

This package was also at second place.

Some real vintage stuff which included an old cut up apron.

Seeing a Christmas project here?

I've learned where a guy that sells tools and notions sets up each year, but not on Sunday.

He is a bit cheaper than stores and Amazon.

Located @ the little park next to the water tower in

Camden, Ohio

So cheap in fact, that you can afford to buy different pairs of embroidery scissors to try them out.

I also like to have several pairs, because like reading glasses, I can put them in different places so I'll have a pair within reach.

These are to cut embroidery thread. Easier to snip with the curved blades.